Royal Caribbean Blog

A person that went overboard from a cruise ship in Europe was successfully rescued.

A person was reported going overboard while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas shortly after departing Barcelona, Spain. 

Just hours after setting sail, guests reported hearing "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" over the ship's PA system, which is the code for man overboard. 

X user @landonb94 posted that he could see spotlights and rescue boats from his balcony. 

Thankfully, the individual was rescued and taken to the ship's medical facility. 

The incident occurred on the first night of Symphony of the Seas' 14-night transatlantic cruise

Symphony of the Seas' 2023 European season has come to an end. She departed Barcelona on Sunday, October 29 to begin her repositioning sailing to Florida, where she will remain until May 2024. 

The individual fell overboard after departing from Barcelona while en route to Valencia. 

Other scheduled ports of call during the voyage include Cadiz, Spain and Nassau, Bahamas. She'll arrive in Fort Lauderdale on November 12. 

The ship turned around, and after about an hour of search and rescue efforts, the Captain made an announcement that the person had been successfully recovered.  

No details have been given about the individual who went overboard

Royal Caribbean has not announced whether the individual who went overboard was a crew member or passenger. They also have not disclosed their gender, age, or any other details, such as why they went overboard in the first place. 

A full investigation will need to happen to determine if there are any safety violations. 

This is not the first time someone has gone overboard during a Royal Caribbean cruise

Back in April, an Australian man went overboard while sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas from Australia just two days before the ship was scheduled to arrive in Hawaii. A few months later in July, a woman cruising to Singapore on Spectrum of the Seas went overboard. 

On August 29, a 19-year-old guest sailing onboard Wonder of the Seas went overboard on a Caribbean cruise. 

According to CruiseJunkie's website, there have been 60 passengers who have gone overboard on Royal Caribbean ships since 2000, not including this recent incident on Symphony of the Seas. 

Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

Cruise ships have a variety of code words for different situations to avoid alarming guests. "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar," for instance, lets other crew members know that someone has gone overboard.

"Alpha" means there's a medical emergency and is typically followed by a location, such as Deck 11 Aft. 

Royal Caribbean also uses "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie," to alert the crew of a security threat onboard.

Not all cruise lines use the same codes. If you hear "Alpha Team, Alpha Team, Alpha Team" on a Carnival ship, there is a fire onboard, rather than a medical emergency. 

I had put off a Canada and New England cruise for years because it seemed like a secondary itinerary, but I wish I had done it sooner.

Cruise ships can visit so many places, and while the amount of ships heading north is relatively small, it's a destination you shouldn't sleep on anymore.

I went on a 7-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas to four ports across Maine and Nova Scotia.  

I was excited to try something new, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would love spending time in this part of the world. It was even more eye-opening for me considering I grew up in New England, so this wasn't my first foray into the area.

From the beautiful landscape to the terrific dining and welcoming people, I not only had a great cruise, I really fell in love with the area.  

Many parts of the 7-night cruise surprised me, like how gorgeous everywhere we visited was and how I wanted to spend as much time as possible on shore.

Wild weather

Planning what to wear or how cold or hot it would be proved much more difficult than I anticipated. 

If someone is going to Alaska, it's very common knowledge the weather shifts a lot there, but I didn't get any sense of the same dynamic in the northeast.

Looking at the forecasts in just the last few days before the cruise, the forecast shifted a lot and I wasn't sure if it would rain, be cold, or hot in any of the places.

It wasn't until the day we set sail or so that the weather picture finally cleared up (literally and figuratively).

In speaking to crew members, they told us how lucky we were with the weather because rain has been dominant this cruise season.

The day before the cruise in Boston there was heavy rain all day, but the next day on embarkation day it was clear. In Sydney, Nova Scotia, the temperature barely creeped above 60, while we were wearing shorts in Portland, Maine because it was 75 degrees.

My advice is to wait to pack until just a few days before the cruise, but bring an extra pair of shorts and rain gear, just in case.

Read more: 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips

Maine was so much better than I expected

If you had asked me on embarkation day which ports I was excited to visit, I would have told you any day in Canada because I thought Maine was going to be more lackluster and familiar.

It turned out I was completely wrong about at least Maine.

Nova Scotia was beautiful and I enjoyed it, but I found I enjoyed Maine even more.

We visited Bar Harbor and Portland, and in both cases, our ship was located right in the heart of both towns. It enabled us to see and do more with less effort.

Bar Harbor's quaint town along with Acadia National Park within a mile and a half provided much more to see and do than I thought. I was expecting a sleepy town with a few restaurants and pretty trees. Instead, I found so many ways I could spend my day there and I loved it all.

Portland is a city, and that means a great deal of dining and shopping. There are also a number of beautiful lighthouses and just about every aspect of New England you'd want to see.

If I could do the cruise over again, I would plan out more of my time in Maine in order to maximize my time.

Boston was super easy to sail from

I had heard some horror stories about embarkation in Boston, namely long lines with no distinction between suites, Crown and Anchor status, or anything.

As it turned out, embarkation was smoother in Boston than some cruise terminals in Florida.

The staff had everything set up from the start, and it was clear where to go and what to do for each step.

Sorry California, but Los Angeles still holds the title as the worst embarkation experience in the United States in my opinion.

We did customs immigration halfway through the cruise

Every cruise I've taken up until now would have the immigration process occur at the conclusion of the cruise, but this time was different.

Because our cruise began in the United States, went to Canada, and then returned to a U.S. port midway through the cruise, we had to go through immigration on our visit to Bar Harbor.

Royal Caribbean made the process quite simple. If you had a cruise line shore excursion booked, they would escort you first through the customs process and then onto your tour.  

If you were going on your own into Bar Harbor, you got a time to report for the customs interview process, and then could go on your way. Think of it like when your luggage is ready to disembark the ship after the cruise.

I was expecting a super slow and backed up process, but it went incredibly quick. Walk through the Main Dining Room, show your passport when it was your turn and go on your way. In nearly all cases, the agents just waived you through.

The best part of this was because we had gone through the immigration process in Bar Harbor, we didn't have to go through it again at the end of the cruise in Boston.

This is a beer lover's dream cruise

I love a good craft beer, and both Nova Scotia and Maine had so many great choices.

No matter which port we visited, almost any restaurant would have at least a half dozen local brews to choose from on their menu.

If you went to a bar, there was a nearly overwhelming selection of local beers and I loved it. Royal Caribbean's onboard beer selection is underwhelming, especially if you like hoppier beers.  

The next time I go on this itinerary, I'd be quite tempted to skip an unlimited beverage package because I'd much rather spend my money enjoying beers around the ports.

In case you're wondering, Tubular IPA by Orono Brewing Company, was my top choice during the cruise.

Staying solo in a Junior Suite felt palatial

I booked a Junior Suite for this cruise because at the time I thought it would be me and my wife without the kids, and wanted a nicer cabin to enjoy.

Unfortunately, she couldn't join me for this cruise so I ended up in the Junior Suite as a solo cruiser and the extra living space made the cabin feel just as big as other full suites without the price tag.

I stayed in cabin 1044 on deck 10 of Serenade of the Seas and it had 293 square feet of space, along with a 41 square foot balcony.

There was not only more walking space, but a full sofa and a blue chair and ottoman that I used as my office every day.

I know some people would point out that almost any cabin when you don't have to share it feels big, but I was surprised by just how big a Junior Suite felt with just me there.

Read more: I tried a Junior Suite to see if it’s worth it

Bar Harbor was so pretty, I would move there if I could

Within 15 minutes of disembarking my tender in Bar Harbor, Maine, I texted my wife that I wanted to move there.

Between the small town feel and the fact it backed up against Acadia National Park, I really loved my time in Bar Harbor.

Admittedly I thought I was onto some kind of a secret until I learned every millionaire from the Gilded Age discovered Bar Harbor about 100 years ago. You know what they say, good taste never goes out of style.

While I doubt we're moving to Maine anytime soon, I really could envision myself spending more time in Bar Harbor on some future summer vacation. Maybe I'm just a sucker for New England, but it had just the vibe I was looking for.

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Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

Is a Junior Suite worth it to pay over $1,000 more for this cabin?

I took a recent cruise where I paid around $1,200 more to move up from an oceanview cabin to a Junior Suite and I think it was money well spent.

From the extra living space, to double points, to speedy embarkation, I tried out a Junior Suite and thought it was totally worth it.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group posts $1 billion profit as company sees skyrocketing demand
• Icon of the Seas is about to begin her second round of sea trials
• Cruise bookings are so hot that Royal Caribbean outperformed all of its predictions, defying slowdown fears
• Royal Caribbean CEO calls out Hamas attacks on Israel as "horrific terrorist attacks"
• Celebrity Cruises is adding a customer loyalty lounge on weeklong cruises
• 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips
• My favorite stop on my first cruise was St. Thomas. Here are 7 reasons why I'm already planning a trip back

New RCB Video: Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The secret crew-only areas on a cruise ship

Have you ever wondered what the crew areas of a crew ship look like?

Guests aren't allowed to ever go to these areas of the ship, which leaves a lot of people wondering what it's like there.

Bryan James works on Wonder of the Seas and shared a glimpse of what his cabin and crew restaurants, laundry, and stores look like.

New waterslide is being added to Thrill Waterpark

A new waterslide is being built at Royal Caribbean's water park on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

A new family flume slide is under construction, which will add a new slide designed to accommodate 2-4 people per raft.

It's being added to the Splash Summit Tower.

How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works

Few cruise ship venues are as integral to the onboard experience as the Main Dining Room.

It's where you can go to eat dinner every night, along with breakfast, and lunch on sea days. The best part is it's included in your cruise fare.

How does the Main Dining Room work and what should you expect when eating there? We have a full breakdown of what to expect.

This cruise hack turns your cabin into a private area

If you're sharing a cabin with someone, this cruise ship cabin hack could make a big difference.

Using a shower curtain and magnets, you could section off part of your room to provide much needed privacy.

Creating a dark space can be perfect for light sleepers or those sharing a cabin with cruisers who use a different sleep schedule. 

Is Allure of the Seas the "worst" Oasis Class ship?

Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class cruise ship that doesn't have waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and many other ship wide enhancements, so does that make Allure a bad choice?

Often there are comments posted online about how Allure of the Seas feels outdated, so is that really the case?

Jenna sailed on Allure of the Seas to see for herself how the ship stacks up.

While a Canada and New England cruise might not be the most sought-after cruise itinerary, it's worth trying at least once.

The chance to see quaint towns, enjoy terrific seafood, and take in nature's beauty without the Caribbean heat are at the heart of why many try a cruise going north.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Canada and New England each year in the summer and early fall.  Cruises sail from New York, Boston, and sometimes Quebec or Baltimore. There are short and long cruises, and it's an important segment of Royal Caribbean's Northeast itineraries.

The appeal of vibrant fall foliage, watching excursions and lobster bakes draw many to these cruises.

If you're ready to try one, here are seven Canada and New England cruise tips to ensure you have a great time!

You can't plan for the weather

No matter which week or itinerary you pick, you'll be playing a guessing game as to what to expect when you go.

Between hurricane season and the transition between spring, summer, and fall, it could be hot, cold, rainy, or sunny. It's very similar to how difficult it is to plan around Alaska weather.

Unlike a Caribbean cruise that is going to be hot and probably sunny, one week in Canada can have very different weather to the next one.

What you will want to do when getting ready to pack for your cruise is keep track on the forecast, and try to see what the predictions are in the days leading up to your sailing.

Rain is probable, but it could just as likely be sunny. Make sure you bring rain gear, and even a pair of shorts.

It's also a good idea to pack fleece jackets or light sweaters you can easily take off or put back on.  Parkas or heavy jackets aren't necessary.

You dock very close to all the activities

It can be surprising how close your ship docks to the towns you visit on a Canada & New England cruise.

In most towns, you will dock downtown and be able to walk right into town and explore. This is different than many ports in the Caribbean or Europe, where ships dock far away.

This means you can easily do things quicker and without much transit time. 

While Royal Caribbean offers tours to many of the popular activities, you can easily find excursions to do on your own. In fact, Hop-on Hop-off buses visit places like the summit of Cadillac Mountain or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Acadia National Park is just 1.3 miles from Bar Harbor, and you can walk along the Halifax waterfront.

You'll find towns very walkable and easy to explore on your own, so don't assume you need to have a shore excursion booked in order to get to the most popular activities.

The longer cruises are worth the time

Royal Caribbean offers Canada & New England cruises of various lengths, but you really should try to pick a longer sailing.

While the 4-night and 5-night cruises are cheap and easy to hop on, they usually visit just one or two ports and it may leave you feeling disappointed that you didn't get the full experience.

By picking a 7-night or longer Canada & New England, you'll get to visit ports in both Maine and Canada, and have access to more of the must-see sights this region is known for.

If you really want the best one-and-done itinerary, try an open-jaw sailing between Quebec and New York that visits ports throughout Northeast Canada and Maine.

Not everyone can make a week-long cruise work scheduling wise, but if you are teetering on which cruise to book, opt for the longer one.

Early summer advantage

By taking an early or mid summer cruise, you will find very comfortable temperatures on your cruise.

Cruises in June, July, and August will be comfortable out and that means you'll want to spend more time outdoors at lobster and clam bakes, whale watching, or sightseeing on the ocean.

August is likely the warmest month of the Canada and New England cruise season, with it being ideal for beach visits and pool time onboard.

The disadvantage of summer is it's the peak part of the season, and there will be multiple cruise ships in each port along with plenty of land tourists to contend with.

In addition, there's no fall leaf colors to see in summer.

If you prefer warmer temperatures over anything else, the summer is the way to go.

Fall foliage in late season

The opportunity to see the beautiful fall foliage is reason enough to book a Canada & New England cruise.

You'll need to book a cruise in September or October to enjoy the autumn feel and colors of the leaves. It's nearly impossible to know precisely when the leaves will be at their peak when you book a cruise a year in advance, but it won't be earlier than September.

Depending on how much rain the region gets, along with how hot summer is, will determine when the leaves start changing. You risk going when the leaves haven't changed yet or get there after they're mostly on the ground.

The best month for leaf peeping is October, although you're more likely to encounter colder temperatures and rain.

Lobster is a must-eat

Maine and the Maritime Provinces are the capital of sourcing lobster, and it's why you need to eat lobster on this cruise.

Many restaurants serve lobster rolls, broiled lobster, and bakes. If you remotely like to eat lobster, you need to go out of your way to eat some on this cruise.

If you're in Bar Harbor and other ports in Maine, order a lobster roll. Blueberry pie is also popular in this region.

Chowder is what you'll want to order in Boston, and Digby scallops are a great choice in Halifax.

If you love beer, there are so many great local brews you can try. Nearly every restaurant you go to will have a selection of local craft beers, so I recommend branching out and asking for what's local on tap.

Skip Peggy's Cove

I know this sounds crazy, but despite being an iconic symbol of the region, you're better off skipping Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia.

I'm sure some will take umbrage with this tip, but the problem with Peggy's Cove is it gets overrun with tourists and it will take you about an hour to get there from Halifax. It's really more of a scenic stop, than a destination.

Lunenburg is a great place to explore while your ship is in Halifax. It's downtown is a UNESCO world heritage site. There's a fish market that overlooks the harbor has a great seafood.

Before you skip Halifax completely, make sure you explore the waterfront. It's a lovely boardwalk with shops, restaurants, and lovely views.  And you can walk there from your cruise ship, so no need to book anything special.

Preparing to make the switch from land travel to cruising?

If you’re like me, you may prefer or be used to longer travel on land, where you can fully immerse yourself in a destination and explore it to the fullest.

However, cruise itineraries don’t usually allow for this slow-paced cultural immersion. 

On my first cruise on Wonder of the Seas, we got to visit several ports of call at places I had never been to before: Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

We also purchased Royal Caribbean shore excursions on St. Thomas and St. Maarten, allowing us to go on guided tours of the islands. 

While I enjoyed seeing multiple places on one cruise, it’s true that the short stop did not allow us enough time to get out of the tourist traps and see more authentic parts of the islands. 

Cruising port visits and excursions may not provide the authentic cultural experiences some travelers prefer.

However, the short port stop may provide a great opportunity to get a taste of the island and brainstorm ideas for another trip back.

My favorite stop on my cruise was St. Thomas, a territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and I’m already planning a trip back. Here are the 7 reasons why. 

Read more: I went to a stunning Caribbean island on my cruise that you've probably never heard of

1. The food tasted incredible

I only had enough time to try one meal while we were at St. Thomas, but it was one of the best meals I tasted all week.

I stopped at a grab-and-go restaurant on the beach and ordered this chicken curry with rice and plantains. It was warm, spicy, and sweet—just looking at this photo makes my mouth water again.

We also tasted some famous turtle ice cream: vanilla flavor with caramel, chocolate, pecans, and hot fudge swirls. 

While I can already recommend the food on this island, I’ll need a longer trip to do further research and uncover the best food available on St. Thomas.  

2. It was easily accessible to Americans

St. Thomas is known as one of the easiest Caribbean destinations for American tourists to visit.

Since the Virgin Islands are a territory of the United States, St. Thomas uses US dollars, and English is widely spoken. 

U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel into the Virgin Islands, just a valid ID.

I found that the island was extremely accessible for us as Americans—I could use my cash or card to make payments, and speak with everyone around me in English. 

Given the ease of travel, communication, and transactions, St. Thomas would make a great vacation destination in the future. 

3. The history fascinates me 

Our shore excursion involved a tour of the island by open-air taxi, while the driver gave us information and history about St. Thomas.

The history itself was fascinating, enhanced by our gorgeous view of the island.

I learned a lot of facts about the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Thomas in particular. However, we weren’t able to get out and see many of the major buildings on this tour.

On a visit back, I would like to see some of the historical sites for myself.

For example, we passed but didn’t go into Fort Christian, the oldest structure on the island and now a museum.

We also heard about Blackbeard’s Castle, which was allegedly built by the pirate himself for a lover.

And I would have loved to see the 99 Steps, local steps built from the ballast bricks of old Danish ships. 

4. Transportation is simple

Ranging just 3 miles at its widest point, St. Thomas is easy to travel around. 

It takes less than half an hour to get to the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, even from the furthest point of the island.

St. Thomas most commonly offers public transportation like taxi and bus services or the option to rent a vehicle such as a car or motorbike.

Not only that, but a U.S. driver’s license is still valid if you choose to rent a vehicle and drive it yourself. 

5. We didn’t see the best beaches

When we arrived at the beach portion of our shore excursion, I was blown away by its beauty.

Our shore excursion took us to Magen’s Bay, St. Thomas’ most famous beach.

This bay is a gorgeous beach, sheltered between a jungle of tropical trees and a ring of green, forested hills. The water was an impossibly clear, light blue, and the sand was wide and white.

Despite my amazement at the beach’s beauty, a lifeguard who made conversation with us on the beach told us that Magen’s Bay was far from the best beach on the island.

He said that although the beach is beautiful, it’s only the most popular tourist spot. There are even better ones on the island. 

As the day went on, I did notice that he was right about the tourism: the beach began to overfill with visitors and got too crowded to even find seating. 

Our lifeguard friend recommends Coki Point Beach and Point Pleasant for a better beach and a cheaper stay. I made a note, planning my return trip.

6. Go beyond the beach

While we were relaxing on Magen’s Bay, I noticed a figure in the distance. 

We watched someone jet skiing across the bay, riding back and forth across the water.

Since laying on a beach can get old—especially for trips that last more than one day—water activities and sports are a great way to have a new adventure.

If I had had more time to spare on the island, I would have loved to try some water activities like that lucky person.

St. Thomas offers sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding, jet skiing, fishing, and more. They’re the perfect opportunity to try something new while enjoying the beautiful island and sea around you. 

7. I have to experience Carnival

Carnival is a unique, month-long event that I long to dedicate a whole trip to. While many countries celebrate Carnival, it usually runs between April and May in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Carnival is traditionally a period of celebration before the religious season of Lent, and it involves pageants, singing, dancing, and day-long parties. 

While we were on St. Thomas, our guides told us about Carnival and the many visitors it attracts. In the future, I plan to return and see the party for myself!

Another milestone in the construction of Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class cruise ship will occur this weekend.

"We've been getting Icon ready for her second sea trials. Now it's almost time to wish her a safe journey and successful sea trials!" wrote Meyer Turku's Facebook page. 

"Icon is scheduled to leave for the second sea trials this Saturday evening." 

While at sea, Icon of the Seas will have certain features and systems tested that cannot be done when she's docked. This is to ensure everything is working properly upon her delivery to Royal Caribbean. 

Related: Icon of the Seas sneak peek: Inside Royal Caribbean's next new ship

What happens during a ship's sea trials? 

Sea trials are tests of a cruise ship's navigational and technical systems. This is the final part of cruise ship construction prior to delivery. Sea trials range in duration, and there may be either one or two sessions. 

Icon of the Seas' first round of sea trials took place in June 2023.

During her four days at sea, she traveled hundreds of miles and had her main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels tested. Onboard were 450 specialists who helped run the tests on the ship’s technical areas. 

During this second round of sea trials, Icon of the Seas will be pushed to her limits. 

Lucky coin ceremony

Have you ever heard of the lucky coin ceremony? When a ship's kneel is placed into the dry dock during construction, coins are placed beneath it as a symbol of good fortune. 

Traditionally, the coins are collected when the ship is floated out; however, Icon of the Seas' were nowhere to be found!

They were recently discovered by divers who were cleaning the ship's hull in preparation for the second round of sea trials, revealing that they were never actually lost. Instead, they had been stuck to the bottom of the ship. The coins were collected and sealed in a special box.

"Project manager Olli Jantunen says that Icon of the Seas has the most powerful lucky coins ever, and they certainly brought luck to Icon on her sea trials, where all tests were completed with great results," said Meyer Turku's Facebook page

Less than four months until her maiden voyage

Icon of the Seas is scheduled to depart Miami, Florida on January 27, 2024. 

Through at least April 2025, she will remain in Miami and continue to make 7-night voyages to the Caribbean. 

The 250,800 gross registered ton vessel will take the title of world's largest cruise ship from Wonder of the Seas. In fact, her launch will mark the first time in roughly five years that an Oasis Class ship will not be the largest in the world. 

Icon of the Seas will be joined by Star of the Seas in the summer of 2025. A third Icon Class ship is set to launch in 2026; however, she does not have a name yet. 

Celebrity’s top-tier loyalty members will soon have their own dedicated lounge space on longer sailings.

In an email sent to Captain’s Club members on Wednesday, the cruise line announced that it would start designating an existing lounge space onboard its cruises for Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members. The lounge space will be used “to gather on board during the daily Elite Cocktail hour,” said CEO Laura Hodges Bethge in the email. 

According to Celebrity Cruises, the lounge space will be available twice per cruise on sailings between 5 nights and 7 nights. For longer sailings of 8 nights or longer, the lounge will be available three times. The cruise line said the lounge space will be available from 5pm to 7pm, which aligns with the Elite Cocktail Hour that already takes place onboard. 

Those who have earned Elite, Elite Plus or Zenith Captain’s Club status with Celebrity Cruises are eligible to enter the dedicated lounge space. The email sent to Captain’s Club members indicates that the concierge team on each cruise will inform members of the specific days and locations when the gatherings will take place. 

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Group’s status reciprocity program, anyone with Crown and Anchor Diamond status or above will be eligible to visit this new lounge. This is because Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members automatically earn Elite status when cruising with Celebrity Cruises.

Finally, the announcement clarifies that complimentary drinks for Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith members are still available at bars and lounges throughout the ship. Those who qualify for the nightly happy hour will need to present their Seapass card if they do not prefer using the dedicated lounge space. 

Based on the email, it sounds like the change was made to allow like-minded guests onboard to gather in a dedicated space. “I have heard from many of our loyal Captain’s Club members, such as yourself, that one of the program’s most gratifying aspects is the opportunity to be part of a community of like-minded travelers with whom you can share your experiences on board,” said Celebrity Cruises' CEO in her email. 

Parallels with Royal Caribbean’s Diamond Lounge

Because Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are owned by the same parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, there are many similarities between the two cruise lines. 

Royal Caribbean has always offered a Diamond Lounge onboard its cruise ships, which is one of the lucrative benefits of being a top-tier loyalty member. The lounge was once the only place that Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members could receive complimentary drinks on a daily basis. As such, having access to the lounge was a highly coveted benefit of earning Diamond status through the Crown and Anchor society. 

Royal Caribbean has since adjusted their loyalty drink policy, instead allowing Diamond members and above to receive daily drink vouchers. Vouchers can now be used anywhere onboard Royal Caribbean’s ships and are no longer limited just to the Diamond Lounge. While many guests welcome this change with more flexibility, others were disappointed that the loyalty drink perk is no longer unlimited like it once was in the Diamond Lounge. 

However, Celebrity Cruises continues to operate its loyalty drink perks in a different manner. Captain’s Club members with Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith status have access to a nightly happy hour with unlimited drinks from a set menu. Drinks are available from 5pm to 7pm onboard, with many bars participating in the Elite Cocktail Hour.  

Now, guests will have access to a dedicated loyalty lounge during the happy hour where they can mingle with other top-tier members. Since many top-tier loyalty members share a similar passion for cruising and traveling, the lounge provides an opportunity to cultivate a more community feel onboard. 

It’s important to note this change does not imply that Celebrity Cruises is adding a new lounge onboard. Instead, the email states that an existing lounge onboard will be used to host the Captain’s Club Elite Cocktail hour. This is different than Royal Caribbean, which has always had a dedicated lounge space onboard called the Diamond Club. 

Regardless, this is a nice change for cruisers looking to mingle with other Captain’s Club members.

Captain’s Club reciprocity with Royal Caribbean’s loyalty statuses

With both cruise lines being operated under the same company, Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor society members can enjoy similar benefits and perks when sailing with Celebrity Cruises. Similarly, those who have earned status with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club can also take advantage of the reciprocity program when sailing on Royal Caribbean.

With the status reciprocity program, members of each loyalty program can still enjoy similar benefits and perks regardless of which cruise line they are sailing with. Although the benefits are not exactly equal, the cruise line says they are "comparable."

For example, guests who have earned Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle status on Royal Caribbean automatically earn Elite status on Celebrity Cruises. This is the highest status you can earn through reciprocity on Celebrity Cruises. If you wish to earn Elite Plus or Zenith status, this must be earned on your own.

In the same way, those with Elite, Elite Plus and Zenith status with Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club can earn Diamond status on Royal Caribbean. This is the highest level of status that can received through the reciprocity program, meaning Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members must earn their own status. 

In the spring, I sailed with Celebrity Cruises as a Diamond Plus member on Royal Caribbean. My sister and I enjoyed trying out the status match ourselves with our Elite status. Some of these perks included the nightly happy hour, access to the thermal spa, free gelato, discounts on internet packages and access to a morning coffeehouse-style breakfast. I was impressed by the status match, which allowed me to have high-tier status without ever stepping foot on a Celebrity ship prior to this cruise. 

Before they talked any financials, the first comment from Royal Caribbean Group CEO was to condemn the terrorist attacks on Israel. 

Royal Caribbean Group held its quarterly earnings call on Thursday, and while Wall Street was curious about disruptions in the business from the attacks, Jason Liberty was quick to share his support to Israel and its people. 

"Before we begin today," he began, "I would like to first acknowledge the devastating events taking place in the Middle East." 

Liberty strongly proclaimed that the "horrific terrorist attacks" that have claimed "so many innocent lives" have "no place in civilized society." 

He also took a moment to recognize the efforts of the team onboard Rhapsody of the Seas, as they worked with the U.S. Department of State to aid in the evacuation of Americans from Israel. 

As a result of the attacks, some Royal Caribbean Group sailings were disrupted.

"About 1.5% of our capacity in the fourth quarter had planned to visit Israel," said Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"Most of the impacted deployment was quickly adjusted, including a few sailings that were home porting in Haifa."

There were fewer APCDs, or "available passenger cruise days," due to the cancelation of the rest of the sailings from Israel this cruise season; Rhapsody was scheduled to sail from Haifa to the Greek islands through early November.

What is the effect on demand for 2024?

In 2024, the capacity for sailings to Israel accounts for less than 1.5%, with all of Europe accounting for 15% of their capacity. The vast majority of capacity will be on sailings in North America, whether that's to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, or Canada/New England. 

According to Liberty, the growth that Royal Caribbean has seen has been across all of their markets. 

While the situation in Israel "could potentially weigh on a consumer's psyche...it's not something that [Royal Caribbean] is seeing at this point in time."  

"We're beginning to book for next year. Trends continue to be very strong. But it is, you know, it is early in the European season for us to start calling out that there's no impact from Israel," said Liberty. 

Typically, consumers want to stay within the ecosystem of Royal Caribbean, whether that is on a cruise throughout Europe or one that visits elsewhere in the world. If there is a decrease in demand for European cruises, a consumer will most likely just shift where they want to go, rather than completely abandon the idea of taking a cruise with Royal Caribbean. 

Overall, the demand for cruises has only increased

"The performance of our business continues to accelerate, driven by strong demand and excellent operational execution," remarked Naftali Holtz, Chief Financial Officer at Royal Caribbean Group.

In addition to demand for 2023 and 2024 sailings, Royal Caribbean is seeing folks make bookings into 2025 and 2026. 

"Our visibility in terms of how the consumer is looking at things going forward, at least on a vacation experience on our incredible brands," said Liberty, "is pretty good based off of where the consumer is standing today."

Outside of Europe, cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, have seen an elevated demand.

This is due in part to brand-new experiences, such as Hideaway Beach, opening to the public, as well as it being a port of call on every itinerary on both new Royal Caribbean ships launching in 2024: Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. 

It's not your imagination, a cruise vacation is so in demand right now that even Royal Caribbean can't believe how hot their product has become.

Royal Caribbean Group reported its third quarter 2023 results on Thursday, along with its 2024 outlook. Not only did the company have a one billion dollar profit, but they see even stronger demand to come.

Royal Caribbean Group raised its full-year profit forecast for a third time, which is an important sign of how strong demand is.

During an call with investors, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about how well-positioned a cruise vacation is with consumers, "The unprecedented acceleration in demand and pricing for our leading brands, combined with stronger demand for onboard experiences, were certainly the main drivers of our outperformance."

The business of cruising across the three primary brands of the Royal Caribbean Group: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and SilverSea, have resonated with consumers in bookings.

Some interesting facts:

• More than 130,000 guests sailing on their ships every day
• Guest median household income of at least $125,000
• Guests spending on experiences is currently up 25% compared to 2019, with twice the amount spent on goods
• A third of pre-booking purchases now coming through the mobile app
• Cruise fare rates were up approximately 18% in the third quarter compared to 2019

Mr. Liberty pointed out that while airlines and hotels have concerns related to the financial health of those businesses, cruises are seeing no slow down, "our commercial apparatus is firing on all cylinders."

A closer look at who's booking cruises

Royal Caribbean said it saw a significant increase in new to brand and new to cruise customers this year. This is important, because those that have never cruised before represent the single most viable source of new business.

In the third quarter, approximately two thirds of guests were new to cruise or new to brand, all while also doubling the repeat booking rate. Mr Liberty said this indicates, "strong loyalty and satisfaction."

He added that about 70% of guests made pre-cruise purchases, and this is important because customers who purchased onboard experiences before their cruise spent two and a half times more than those who only bought once on board.

"We have thousands of people making bookings for experiences that are at least 6 to 8 months from today," Mr. Liberty explained. "They're making bookings into 2025. They're even making bookings into 2026."

"So our visibility in terms of how the consumer is looking at things going forward, at least on a vacation experience on our incredible brands is is pretty good based off of where the consumer is standing today."

Moreover, Royal Caribbean is seeing a customer that wants to stay with a Royal Caribbean Group ship, more than any other, "I think what's important is what we're getting is a very sticky consumer who wants to be sailing with us, staying within our ecosystem."

"And so sometimes it's not a question of where they're going to go... but they're going to go somewhere with us. And that's what we're focused on making sure they're doing."

Cruise vs land vacations

Mr. Liberty once again beat the drum of comparing cruises to land vacations, and reiterated how competitive cruises are instead.

He admitted the cruise industry is just "a sliver of overall vacation and travel and leisure", but he sees even a 1% shift of that travel demand to cruise would have an incredible impact on cruises.

"We're seeing that with the younger generations who really look at us very much similar to how they would look to go to Orlando or Vegas or skiing, etc."

He is fond of referring to the value gap that exists between cruises and land vacations, where cruising is such a better value compared to a land resort.

"If we can close half of that gap and get back to where we were, that's also worth probably about ten Oasis class ships."

Europe was the difference maker

There are many reasons why Royal Caribbean Group has a great third quarter, but European cruises were at the top of the list.

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Natali Holtz explained, "Overall, about 50% of the better than expected yield performance was driven by European itineraries, with the remainder mainly driven by Caribbean and Alaska."

About half of passengers on Royal Caribbean Group's European sailings come from the US, and the other half come from around the world.

The Caribbean and Alaska have always been strong performers, but Europe essentially outperformed itself and catapulted itself up this quarter.

Royal Caribbean Group had a great third quarter for the year, posting a profit of $1.0 billion for the quarter, and a very rosy outlook for 2024.

Revenue for the quarter was at $4.2 billion, with net income at $1.0 billion.

The combination of a healthy profit and positive outlook seems to indicate good things to come.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty sees a great third quarter as a catapult towards an even better 2024, "Looking ahead, we see accelerating demand as we build the business for 2024."

He indicated bookings are higher than all prior years and at higher rates.

Third quarter by the numbers

Bookings remained strong throughout the third quarter, significantly exceeding 2019 levels.  

Closer-in demand for 2023 sailings exceeded expectations, contributing to higher load factors at higher prices and higher onboard revenue for the third quarter. 

Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2019 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices. 

Royal Caribbean Group saw better demand than they expected in North American and European itineraries, thanks to last-minute demand that lead them to ships sailing full and at higher prices.

Royal Caribbean's ships were booked at 110% for the quarter. A ship can be booked higher than 100% when there are third or fourth passengers in a cabin.

Lower operating expenses, as well as favorable timing, contributed to better-than-expected costs.

During the third quarter the company repaid $775 million of debt.

As of September 30, 2023, the scheduled debt maturities for the remainder of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 were $0.7 billion, $2.3 billion, $2.8 billion, and $2.8 billion, respectively.

Accelerating demand for 2024

Demand for cruises has only gotten higher, and 2024 looks to be a banner year.

The company reported bookings for next year significantly and consistently outpacing 2019 levels. They're seeing ships getting booked up sooner and at higher prices, with their customers booking earlier.

They also reported the news of Royal Caribbean's new cruise ships (Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas) and expansion of Perfect Day at CocoCay with a new adults-only beach, "has been excellent and further positions the company for strong yield and earnings growth in 2024."

"The performance of our business continues to accelerate, driven by strong demand and excellent operational execution," said Naftali Holtz, chief financial officer at Royal Caribbean Group.